Despite some Masters restrictions  no mention of
prize money, referring to the rough as the "second cut" and the stilted green
jacket ceremony  viewers watched in numbers unmatched by other tourneys
to see Tiger Woods capture his fourth consecutive golf major.

Saturday's round posted a 7.9 overnight rating, 20% above
last year's 6.6 and No. 2 all time behind the 8.6 for Woods' first Masters triumph
in 1997.

CBS recorded TV birdies in several areas.

 Announcers forthrightly told viewers when shots
were on tape, not always routine on golf telecasts.

 When Woods' approach on 9 Sunday rolled off the
green, producer Lance Barrow came up with a tape of Greg Norman's ball
sinking farther in 1996.

 CBS added information boxes on golfers and put together
meaningful taped packages such as the anguish of Woods, David Duval and Phil
Mickelson on missed shots down the stretch Sunday.

 Microphones picked up intriguing comments, such
as Woods ribbing his caddie for urging him to "hit it hard" over the green on
12 Sunday.

 More significant graphics were employed, such as
showing that since 1946 only Jack Nicklaus and Woods had birdied 11 in the final
round and won The Masters  before Tiger recorded a birdie. Reporters
Peter Kostis, Verne Lundquist,David Feherty and Bill Macatee
 after he faded Sunday, Mickelson blamed his inconsistent play in
an interview with Macatee  all turned in peak performances.

 Brief taped profiles or prerecorded interviews would
have educated viewers to unfamiliar names among the leaders such as Chris DiMarco
and Angel Cabrera.

 Many key putts were shown live from a low angle
that lost perspective, especially Woods' short errant putt on 15 for birdie.
Viewers had to wait for a replay to clearly see that the ball lipped out.

 A 3-D graphic profile of greens, a la NBC on the
U.S. Open, was needed to show the undulations. Same for the hilly fairways.

 A post-round interview of new leader Woods wasn't
captured by CBS on Saturday. Executive producer Terry Ewert said Sunday
that Macatee was interviewing Mickelson when Woods walked by and did an interview
with the BBC and then was whisked away to a news conference by Masters liaisons.
Media savvy Woods should have stayed a few moments for an interview on Masters
telecaster CBS. Better yet, CBS should have had Peter Kostis as a potential
backup.

CBS grade: B+.

Weekend highs and lows

Scoop award: 1. NBC's Peter Vecsey scored
in revealing Sunday that the "only reason Sean Kemp's (Portland) teammates turned
him in (to enter a drug rehabilitation program) is they were afraid he was going
to die on the court."

Best production: Fox's film-like opening, cranking
up the audio on restarts and arrows identifying cars on the NASCAR Winston Cup
Virginia 500.

Information award: CBS Story of The Masters noting
that the original induction fee for Augusta was $350, with $60 monthly fees.

Strongest comments: ESPN's Michael Wilbon
 "The whole (Lakers) team is sick of Kobe." He agreed with Mike Lupica
that Bryant could be traded next season.

Hustle award: NBC shot showing suspended Minnesota
vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale staying late in Sunday's
game against the Lakers after being allowed to attend only the first half. "He
apparently was given special dispensation," quipped Marv Albert .